Events

Meet the Plant Science Team Meet the Plant Science Team Image Plant Science Staff Image Dr. Morgan Gostel Dr. Morgan Gostel is the John J. Willaman Director of Plant Science at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania. His research in plant systematics emphasizes diversity and evolution of what he refers to as his botanical A, B, Cs namely three families of flowering plants including A raliaceae  (ginseng and ivy), B urseraceae (frankincense and myrrh), and C ompositae (daisies and sunflowers). His work has especially been focused in tropical Africa and Madagascar, but the plants in these families are distributed worldwide. Dr. Gostel is also a research associate in the Department of Botany at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Since 2015, he has led the Global Genome Initiative for Gardens (GGI-Gardens), an international partnership of botanic gardens dedicated to supporting the collection of genome-quality tissues from living collections and their preservation in biobanks to support genomics research. Image Dr. Cynthia Skema Dr. Cynthia Skema is a botanical scientist at Morris and her research centers on the evolution, systematics, and conservation of flowering plants. She enjoys conducting research in the field, the herbarium, and the lab, and believes working in all three arenas is necessary to best understand the plants she studies. Dr. Skema specializes in the systematics of the cotton family (Malvaceae sensu lato), especially the Dombeyoideae, and co-coordinates the Malvaceae Taxonomic Expert Network for the World Flora Online. She is also interested in the digitization and dissemination of herbarium data and coordinates the Mid-Atlantic Herbaria Consortium. Her other research interest is the evolution of separate sexes in angiosperms and she has a soft spot for the floras of Pennsylvania, Madagascar, and New Zealand. Image …

Seasons Magazine Seasons Magazine Image Seasons Magazine brings together stories from across Morris Arboretum & Gardens, offering a deeper look at the gardens, programs, and community that make the Morris so special. With features on exhibitions, research, and seasonal experiences, each issue connects readers to what’s happening throughout the year and invites them to explore more. Seasons  Fall/Winter 2026 Read the latest issue below, or download the PDF .  Past Issues of Seasons Fall/Winter 2026 •  Spring/Summer 2026 •  Fall/Winter 2025 •  Spring/Summer 2025 •  Fall/Winter 2024 •  Spring/Summer 2024  •  Fall/Winter 2023 •  Spring/Summer 2023 •  Fall/Winter 2022 • Spring/Summer 2021 •  Fall/Winter 2021 • Spring/Summer 2020 •  Fall /Winter 2020  •  Fall 2019  •  Summer 2019 • Spring/Winter 2019  •   Fall 2018  • Summer 2018  •  Spring/Winter 2018 • Fall 2018   …

Conferences Conferences Image Image 9 am – 4:30 pm Fee: $155 • Student fee (with ID): $85 Haverford College, Haverford, PA Stokes Hall Auditorium REGISTER TODAY → Water shapes every landscape, sustains every ecosystem, and connects communities to the natural world. This year’s Tree Canopy Conference explores the vital relationship between trees and water, from the mechanics of tree physiology to the hydrologic history of our region and everything in between.   The conference will be held at Haverford College in the Stokes Hall Auditorium and is a partnership between the Morris Arboretum & Gardens and the Haverford College Arboretum. Attendees may also enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of Haverford College Arboretum’s extensive tree collection. This year's tour will focus on the Pinetum. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on project weaving willow rods into a wattle fence! The day’s program has been submitted to carry 5 CEUs from ISA, LA CES, and the NJ Board of Tree Experts. SEE FULL AGENDA & SPEAKERS → A small number of complimentary admissions are available for students in financial hardship. If you are interested in a student complimentary admission, please email education@morrisarboretum.org . Scholarships for practitioners, interested individuals, educators, and others are available through TreePennsylvania. Click here for more information and to apply →  Image Image   Image Image     Image Image     Morris Arboretum & Gardens hosts conferences and partners with a variety of organizations to bring together experts, researchers, and practitioners to explore pressing topics in plant science and the natural world. These gatherings create opportunities to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and explore current research. Conferences are designed for professionals and dedicated learners, with many offering continuing education units (CEUs) to support ongoing professional development. Our annual conferences include: Mid-Atlantic Plant …